EFL Fixtures: Wrexham face daunting opener at Southampton while Birmingham host relegated Ipswich

Wrexham will open their quest for a fourth successive promotion at Southampton while fellow Championship new-boys Birmingham will host Ipswich on the opening weekend of next season.

The EFL revealed the new fixture list this lunchtime and it has thrown up two early clashes between teams that were two divisions apart last term.

Wrexham have continued their remarkable rise from non-league to second tier under the leadership and financial backing of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

After the clash with Will Still’s Saints, they will play their first home match in the Championship following a 43-year absence on August 16 when West Brom are the visitors to the Racecourse Ground.

A new season and a new league awaits. We present you the 2025/2026 Wrexham AFC fixtures…

🔴⚪ #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/lEmiPsN6R4

— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) June 26, 2025

Birmingham have ownership royalty of their own with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady part of an American group led by Tom Wagner.

They will open the Championship season with a home game against relegated Ipswich on Friday, August 8 before a trip to Blackburn the week after.

Leicester, the third team to drop out of the Premier League last season, host Sheffield Wednesday on the opening weekend while Sheffield United, beaten by Sunderland in the play-off final, face Bristol City.

There will be some tasty derby games next season in the second tier with Southampton taking on Portsmouth on September 13 and January 24.

The Steel Derby between the two Sheffield clubs occurs on November 22 and February 21 while the Old Farm derby between Norwich and Ipswich takes place on October 4 and April 11.

Championship fixtures on the opening weekend

Friday, August 8

Birmingham City v Ipswich Town (8pm)

Saturday, August 9

Charlton Athletic v Watford (12.30pm)

Coventry City v Hull City (12.30pm)

Southampton v Wrexham (12.30pm)

Middlesbrough v Swansea City (3pm)

Norwich City v Millwall (3pm)

Oxford United v Portsmouth (3pm)

Queens Park Rangers v Preston North End (3pm)

Stoke City v Derby County (3pm)

West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers (3pm)

Sheffield United v Bristol City (5.30pm)

Sunday, August 10

Leicester City v Sheffield Wednesday (4.30pm)

League One

League One starts a week earlier with Luton, who have suffered back-to-back relegations, hosting newly promoted AFC Wimbledon on August 1.

Cardiff, who slipped back into the third tier for the first time in 23 years, host Peterborough first up while beaten playoff finalists Leyton Orient visit relegated Huddersfield.

Our 25/26 fixtures in full 🫡 pic.twitter.com/2VME9aZkPF

— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) June 26, 2025

League One fixtures on the opening weekend

Friday, August 1

Luton Town v AFC Wimbledon (8pm)

Saturday, August 2

Cardiff City v Peterborough United (12.30pm)

Blackpool v Stevenage (3pm)

Bradford City v Wycombe Wanderers (3pm)

Burton Albion v Mansfield Town (3pm)

Doncaster Rovers v Exeter City (3pm)

Huddersfield Town v Leyton Orient (3pm)

Lincoln City v Reading (3pm)

Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley (3pm)

Rotherham United v Port Vale (3pm)

Wigan Athletic v Northampton Town (3pm)

Sunday, August 3

Stockport County v Bolton Wanderers (12pm)

League Two

Oldham’s first game back in the Football League following promotion in the National League play-offs comes at MK Dons.

Last season’s National League champions Barnet host Fleetwood.

✊ Getting us started.

The first 5⃣ in @SkyBetLeagueTwo.#EFLFixtureReleaseDay | #oafc pic.twitter.com/yxZg3n4soT

— (P) Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) June 26, 2025

League Two fixtures on the opening weekend (all 3pm kick-offs on Saturday, August 2)

Accrington Stanley v Gillingham
Barnet v Fleetwood Town
Bristol Rovers v Harrogate Town
Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town
Chesterfield v Barrow
Colchester United v Tranmere Rovers
Grimsby Town v Crawley Town
Milton Keynes Dons v Oldham Athletic
Newport County v Notts County
Salford City v Crewe Alexandra
Shrewsbury Town v Bromley
Walsall v Swindon Town

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